Early February and major league baseball usually don't go together, unless you're in Central Texas.The Houston Astros Caravan will be making its annual swing through the area this week, beginning today in Cameron and ending Wednesday in Temple.This year's traveling party will include outfielders Lance Berkman and Daryle Ward, pitcher Scott Linebrink and venerable radio broadcaster Milo Hamilton. New manager Jimy Williams and general manager Gerry Hunsicker will join the party for its final two days in the area.Two of this year's caravan participants have Central Texas connections, as Berkman is a Waco native and Linebrink is from Round Rock. Berkman, the Astros' Most Valuable Player last season who finished fifth in the National League MVP voting, signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension last week.Another local connection is at the top, as the Astros are owned by Cameron native and Temple businessman Drayton McLane Jr.The caravan's first stop will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Cameron, with an assembly at Yoe High School. That will be followed by the caravan's most popular event, the Colonial Mall-Temple autograph session from 4-5:30 p.m.On Tuesday, the party will meet with patients at Scott and White Memorial Hospital from 10:45 a.m.-noon. That will be followed by an assembly with Temple College athletes from 1-2:30 p.m. and another assembly from 3-4 p.m. at the Temple High field house.Wednesday's activities will include a 7 a.m. breakfast in Belton with University of Mary Hardin-Baylor athletes and an assembly at Killeen Shoemaker from 9-10 a.m.The Astros party will then conclude its Central Texas stay with a Temple Lions Club luncheon at the TC Student Activities Center from noon to 1 p.m. After that, it's on to Round Rock, home of the team's Double-A affiliate, the Express of the Texas League. By Greg Rajan
